By: Dave Abrahams
Whitley, Coventry - This is not a replacement for the Land Rover Discovery; the Discovery Sport – due to debut in March this year – represents a new direction for this 25-year-old nameplate.
It’s set to fill the shoes of the Freelander, expanding the footprint of what Land Rover envisages as becoming a brand in its own right like Range Rover.
The maker is pitching it as a way to attract new members into the Land Rover fold, customers who might otherwise have bought a smaller, less expensive SUV than the full-sized Disco beetle-crusher, with traditional all-terrain ability in a more compact package, and the most versatile interior architecture yet in a Land Rover.
It's the first model from Solihull with a sliding second row of seats, so you can tailor boot space and rear legroom to the occasion - and it will also be available with fold-flat 5+2 seating for soccer moms and other high-occupancy chauffeurs.
But here Land Rover faces the same problem as Jeep: in order to 'earn' the badge it must also have serious off-road ability, so every Discovery Sport will come with Land Rover's sophisticated Terrain Response all-wheel drive, coupled to an all-new rear suspension set-up, with short overhangs and plenty of ground clearance for when you really want to get down and dirty.
PUTTING NUMBERS TO IT
AT 4599mm long on a 2741mm wheelbase, 2173mm wide and 1724mm high, the Sport is considerably smaller than a full-sized Disco, but still boasts a claimed 212mm ground clearance and 600mm wading ability.
It will be available with a choice of two-litre forced-induction petrol power (177kW at 5800rpm and 340nm at 1750rpm) and two variants of 2.2-litre turbodiesel - the TD4 with 110kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm at 1750rpm or the SD4 with 140kW and 420Nm at the same revs.
Each drives all four wheels as required via a nine-speed auto transmission with paddle shift, modulated by the familiar Terrain Response control, and with McPherson strut front and the new integral coil-spring rear suspension.
FOUR GRADES ON OFFER
Four specification grades will be available to local buyers, with the 'cheap seat' in this case being the S model that focuses on value but which still packs features like a six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and streaming capability, 17-inch alloys, Trailer Stability Assist and Pedestrian Protection System.
The SE model adds that third seating row as standard (it's optional on the TD4 S), while also spicing up your life with leather seats, dual-zone climate control, satnav, cruise control and front and rear parking aids, including a reverse camera. The HSE throws in 18-inch alloys, Xenon lights with LED signature, upgraded audio system with 10 speakers, front electric seats and a panoramic roof.
That's surely luxurious enough for most, but if not Land Rover is offering an 'HSE Luxury' version that adds a few extra stylistic embellishments inside and out, as well as 19-inch 'diamond turned' alloy wheels and Windsor leather seat trim, among other indulgences.
There's no word yet on pricing but as soon as we know, so will you.